Biggest merp bass ever, Where and how to Shad Rap, Boat to glory

Bassin’ biz peeps — If your stuff is all that and you wanna reach 6 figs of diehard bass-heads per email, hit me back!

Just a note to say goodbye for now to Billy Graham. Years ago when I was doing angler profiles for BassFan, I asked Mark Davis who his favorite person was — believe he said Billy Graham. Didn’t get it at the time but I do now. We lost a truly awesome dude this week, glad he was here for a time.

If you’re getting the BassBlaster for the first time it’s cuz a bud signed you up!

Today’s Top 4

Merps are invadin’!

Believe this is the biggest merpy derp ever! Caught somewhere in Japan — check how @backlash_official blocked out the merp face in the hero shot hahahaha!

@mcgreschak said: “Not the way I wanted to make it on the Blaster but I’ll take it. #Merp” Lol love it!!

Did Ott DeFoe catch a merp spot on Martin? Lookin’ like it:

Contacted Trip about a possible new B.A.S.S. rule where a merp is worth double lbs, but haven’t heard back….

Gitcha Ott-like BUFF headwarmers here. Will again recommend the merino. And didja know that BUFF is having a 65% OFF GLOVE SALE!!?? Makin’ room for the 2018 gloves, get on it before Monday night.

> “We’ve come to the point where we’re at a crossroad relative to what we can do to meet anglers’ and boaters’ expectations. We’ve stretched every dollar. If we don’t get a revenue increase programs will be cut from the 2018-19 budget.”

That’s actually the case with many DNRs, glad PA is drawing a line in the dirt.

> “…are filter feeders, with long gillrakers to strain zooplankton, which is the same food young gamefish eat before switching to minnows and shad. The more these fish become established, the more they have the capability to outcompete native species.”

Tip of the Day

> DeFoe is largely a shallow-water angler, and as such he likes to keep moving. …having a lure that will allow him to effectively cover water horizontally when the water temp is cold….

> “I caught my first 5-lb bass on a Shad Rap when I was a kid, and my first 7-lber on one in an EverStart tournament. ….I’ve got a lot of confidence in the Shad Rap.”

> “I use it when the water temp is in the 46-52 degree range. The tight wiggle of the Shad Rap really appeals to bass in cold water. It has a very natural swimming action and I catch a lot of fish on it in tough times.”

> …best bet is to target transition areas to be able to pinpoint bass…. “I try to start where the steep banks transition to 45-degree angle banks and then where the 45-degree banks transition to flatter banks in the creeks. Bass will use those transition zones while they are chasing shad, migrating in and out of the creeks.”

> …rocks along them…enhances the effectiveness….

> One final place he likes to use Shad Raps is on standing timber or around pole docks.

Says he likes the #5 size best, but will also fish #6 and #7 in shad, “the crawdad pattern everyone says looks like a carp” and olive green crawdad — on egg-beatin’ gear.

Quote of the Day

Once she’s in the boat you’ll start fishing with confidence, a calm head and a relaxed body.

– The Hack Attack talkin’ ’bout…somethin’ I HOPE is, you know…decent? HAHAHA, actually another really good post from the Hack Attack. One more line:

> Beyond the tackle and equipment deal is your head.

#DeepThoughts

Who knew the dude had so much wisdom?

Shot of the Day

@briezziee hammered a nice double, love it when bassin’ gals get on ’em:

Ya got me

Jay Kumar’s BassBlaster is a daily-ish roundup

of the best, worst and funniest in bassin’, as curated by me — Jay Kumar. I started BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a bunch more in bassin’. The Blaster is the #2 daily read on any given day in the wide world o’ bass so thanks for readin’!

The best, worst and funniest in bassin'! Jay Kumar is the guy who created BassFan.com, co-hosted Loudmouth Bass with Zona, was a B.A.S.S. senior writer and a whole lot more in bassin™. Make sure you sign up for the BassBlaster email!